EVIDENTLY embarrassed by its failure to stop the number of mainly-bogus asylum seekers entering the country from rocketing by more than 50 per cent to a record 71,160 last year, the government now decides to show it is getting tough over the flood of illegal immigrants who also make up much of the tide of economic migrants charmed by Britain's soft-touch status.

It is to make visitors from the Indian sub-continent, suspected by immigration officials of intending to settle illegally, put up a £5,000 or £10,000 bond which they won't get returned unless they depart when they should.

Not surprisingly, the Home Office has already been accused of discrimination, with an ethnic minorities group in London remarking that it was noticeable that it was proposing to run this scheme on the Asian sub-continent not in Australia.

One can only assume that immigration officials know where the bulk of the problem lies. But will not this scheme be a fat lot of use in any case, wherever the illegals are coming from?

For, time and again, we hear of illegal immigrants and other spurious entry-seekers forking out fortunes to the crooks who thrive off this trade in people smuggling - simply to get get round the law and into this country.

If these people are prepared to pay thousands of pounds or get into debt to that extent in order to come and stay here illegally, then will they not be mighty glad to participate in this scheme that spares them all the skulduggery and lets them breeze into Britain with guaranteed entry for the same amount?

If the government really wants to do something about this deluge of immigrants and asylum-seekers, it should turn off the welfare tap at this end.

It should deny all benefits, above all the automatic ones, to anyone coming to this country until they have contributed to the social security system for at least 10 years.

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